Much like the world of business, the world of e-learning is constantly evolving as more and more enterprises switch from instructor-led training to a learning management system.
It’s not hard to see why organisations are making this switch. Along with helping to save organisations money on instructor-led employee training, switching from a physical learning environment to a virtual one boasts benefits from reduced learning time to increased levels of retention and trendy new ways to train staff members.
Just as leading industries keep track of business trends, it’s also essential for business leaders and managers to keep under scrutiny employee training and e-learning trends. However, keeping up with L&D trends can be no easy feat due to the rapidly changing pace of new technologies, platforms, and strategies to meet the demands of the consumer market and provide businesses with more unique, quicker ways to train their workforce. For ease of understanding, we created this article outlining several key trends in the employee training and e-learning markets this year to help businesses understand some of the emerging ones and why they’ve become so popular.
Training A Hybrid Workforce
Over the recent years, we have seen a vast rise in the number of organisations promoting remote working, so it’s understandable how employee training and e-learning markets have had to adapt to accommodate this new way of working and training. One of the biggest trends in the employee training and e-learning markets to look out for in 2022 is training a hybrid workforce. With many organisations compromising a mix of hybrid, remote and in-office workers, management has been tasked with providing training to accommodate employees in different working situations.
Although organisations have managed to make do with the limitations of communications software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype etc., it has soon become apparent to businesses that training a hybrid workforce requires an entirely different approach. One that includes both in-office and remote workers without making one or another feel isolated but at the same time offers a high standard of training which will keep trainees engaged and motivated to learn.
Some companies have opted to implement a learning management system (LMS) or a learning experience platform (LXP), which have allowed remote businesses to store, access, track and organise training content. Not to mention, LMS and LXP software can be linked with a cloud-based server which makes them a desirable option for businesses with a mixture of remote, hybrid and in-office staff as the content can be accessed anywhere and at any time. If you’d like to learn more about LMS or LXP platforms, take a look at the offerings from imc Learning Suite, their website is full of more information and a list of services tailored for your employee training needs. Visit it to discover how enlisting their services could enhance your businesses employee training process today.
Microlearning Platforms
Another trend in the employee training and e-learning market for 2022 is microlearning platforms, a steadily growing virtual learning tool designed to help train employees in a time-efficient manner. Microlearning sessions are typically condensed into bite-sized lessons that last no more than fifteen minutes. At the end of the session, there is usually an interactive activity such as a quiz or learning exercise so that trainees can process the new information and recap the session. Depending on which learning management system organisations are using to train their employees, training can be completed in a variety of ways, from learning cards, courses and even knowledge-based games that can make the learning experience more manageable and fun for the trainee, which in turn increases their levels of productivity and retention.
Another reason microlearning is becoming such a key trend in the e-learning and employee training markets is that most learning management systems can be used alongside a cloud-based system accessible through any internet-connective device, whether offline or online via the internet or an application. A feature that makes microlearning platforms an extremely attractive tool for employee training for remote businesses or those with a mixture of a hybrid, remote and in-office staff, as the learning content can be accessed anywhere and at any time, which offers a flexible approach to training as opposed to forcing staff members to complete workloads as soon as possible.
Giving employees a flexible approach to learning is helpful to businesses. Not only does e-learning help individuals who do not learn well in a traditional classroom-based setting, but it also helps employees manage their workload and training as employees can access it anywhere. Like during their commute to work, while on their lunch break or during downtime periods and less-busier periods. Not to mention, microlearning makes it easier for businesses to schedule learning for employees as it’s readily accessible by all. Companies can even use microlearning platforms to track the rate that employees learn and use the data to tailor their learning experience to enhance their overall experience.
Artificial Intelligence
Much like we’ve seen the rise of artificial intelligence in the business world, the use of artificial intelligence has also become a common trend in the worlds of employee training and e-learning. We’ve undoubtedly heard of artificial intelligence aiding businesses by automating routine tasks, responding to customer queries, and gaining insight through data analysis. But now, emerging technology has made it easier for companies to train their workforces without the need for traditional, instructor-led training as artificial intelligence successfully performs many human tasks without a tutor.
As we’ve become more aware of the e-learning industry, a more extensive focus needs to be placed upon performance and delivering a tailored learning experience to trainees. Since everyone learns differently and at different paces, e-learning must be user-friendly and accessible to all regardless of their learning limitations. Artificial intelligence through bots or virtual assistants has been found helpful for this, as it allows learning experience platforms to create a more sympathetic, all-inclusive focus on learning. AI can do this through analysing and interpreting course data, personalised learning experiences by identifying skill gaps and giving recommendations at the end of the session or personalised, relevant suggestions throughout the process.
Alternatively, artificial intelligence can be used to create virtual learning assistants, which can help users by sending time-sensitive notifications such as deadlines and when virtual learning events are due to start etc. Plus, much like microlearning platforms, artificial intelligence and its technology are readily available to everyone anywhere and at any time, which greatly benefits those who work remotely.
Gamification
One key trend in the e-learning and employee training market is gamification, a well-used learning technique by learning management systems to engage learners. This technique has been proven successful for engaging trainees by using the principle of gaming to help individuals meet learning objectives in a time-efficient manner. Immersive learning experiences can be used in various courses, from enhancing soft skills to improving professional skills to adding an element of fun into the training process and motivating trainees more than a traditional learning experience would. Although this technique has come under criticism as business leaders often question its effectiveness due to its being entertainment centred, some examples of gamification that businesses might implement in their employee training could include but aren’t limited to guided virtual tours, virtual reality platforms, real-life scenarios, or gamified assessments such as quizzes etc.
